Back on the ship, after hula lessons each day, it was time for the students to put on a show. Afterward, photos were taken with the instructor.

All the students, including Taylor (yellow head decor), Shannon (center) and Brittney (yellow head decor), perform in a final show.

Shannon, Page, Brittney, Taylor, and their instructor.

The Paynes ate dinner with Richard and his wife, Martie.

Roxanne, Rachael, and Thomas dine out.

Thomas and Bill having fun.

Richard and Martie at dinner.

Karen and Bill dine outdoors.

While getting ready to leave the room for the evening, my favorite hair clip, affectionately named "Clippy" died a sudden death while I was on the cruise. I've been particularly attached to this black hair clip (or its clone) that normally rides on the strap of my purse when not in my hair. It had accompanied me to France, Italy, Japan, Canada, and Mexico over the years and has occasionally jumped off my purse and almost been lost at least 3 other times. I was trying to use Clippy to hold my hair twist, but Clippy, as all hard plastic eventually does, just snapped in two...a metaphor for our lives and getting older. So I was sad to leave Clippy in the ship trash can destined for a Hawaiian land fill or incinerator.

By 6 PM we were leaving Maui on the final leg of our journey back to Honolulu. In the same area, after the hula show, karaoke singing started up again. By this time, we were all pretty wiped out and not in a mood to stand in line for dinner or even dress up, so several of us, like 10 to 15 people went to my brother's executive suite and ordered room service from the restaurant menu. Brandi and I returned to the karaoke bar while we waited for our dinners to be delivered to John's room.

This time Brittney and Taylor decided to participate, if only they could find a song. Shannon helped them look for one.

Taylor, Brittney, and Shannon look for a karaoke song.

Callie and Hillary sit and wait for the singing to start.

Taylor and Brittney found two new friends on the ship to sing a song from 'The Parent Trap.'

But poor Taylor wasn't given a mike

Bruce and Page have fun watching their girls.

After the girls' performance, Brandi and I rushed back to John's for dinner. Then it was time to return to our rooms to pack up the bags so they could be put out in the hallway by midnight, and be picked up by the crew to unload from the ship in the morning. The next morning, Sunday (August 1, 2004), we awoke in Honolulu harbor.

Honolulu harbor as we disembarked.

Then our trusty tour bus pulled up to the terminal just as we were wheeling out 2 over ladened carts of luggage. It was the fastest gathering, loading, unloading, and boarding of 22 (I think at this point) people in history! We returned to the Hilton Hawaiian Village about 10:45 AM. Of course, they had no rooms available for early check in.

But for me, the wait was worth it because of the view. I couldn't ask for anything better.

A room with a view.

And a great balcony.

A fantastic view from every angle.

Bruce and Taylor as the sun sets again.

Brandi takes her last stroll on the beach at sunset.

If only my Fantasy Man were here.

I finally got John and Bruce together so we could take a sibling photo. Please note that Bruce was the only one here who was not sick.

Siblings together again.

On Monday (August 2, 2004), Brandi rented a surfboard and took a couple of hours before it was time for her to catch her flight back to Los Angeles. I was going to swim in the surf, but I had been coughing so much I didn't have the energy to walk down there and spent the morning in the room until Brandi surfed a couple of hours. We grabbed a quick lunch in the Lanaii patio restaurant in the Rainbow Tower and then it was time to say goodbye to Brandi and put her in a taxi to the airport.

Bonney and Brandi on the balcony with a view.

Bill and Thomas touring.

The rest of us remained for another day. We stayed Tuesday (August 3, 2004) until 3 PM before once again gathering everyone and having their luggage hauled to the bus area. Once again our fancy bus was waiting to take us to the airport where we checked our 39 plus bags and toted our extra purchases. It was a long wait at the airport with so many tired children. Our plane took off close to on time at 6:30 PM and we flew all night until 7:05 AM Wednesday (August 4, 2004) morning, Houston time, losing the time zone change hours.

We gathered our two large carts of suitcases and searched for the same luxury shuttle we had used before to carry 20 weary travelers home. After spending at least 30 minutes searching for the shuttle, we discovered a chauffeur with a placard that said 'BOTT'. They had brought a Tahoe to pick us up! We were fortunate to find a service with 3 Lincoln Town Car limousines available and put most of the people in with about half of the luggage. At last we arrived home, but sent Shane with an extended cab pickup to get those people remaining with the baggage that didn't fit in the cars. Debbie was one who remained at the airport with Alex and two of the babies.

Debbie and Shannon have an E-Bay store, Scrapbooking and More. Over the 10 days we were gone they received more than 180 orders. So, as soon as Debbie arrived at home, I helped her and Shannon start filling orders. We worked until 2 AM Thursday (August 5, 2004) morning, having been up (mostly except for a couple of short naps on the plane) since 7 AM Tuesday (Hawaiian time). For this whole day my left ear was clogged up from the airplane landing. After sleeping a few hours, the three of us were up again, completing the orders most of Thursday, the three of us coughing the whole day.

I drove home on Friday (August 6, 2004) arriving at 7 PM. Brandi had flown from Los Angeles to Dallas earlier in the day to visit friends in relatives in the area. I didn't see her until 5 AM Sunday.

I think because of my head congestion it caused me to feel like I was still swaying with the ship all these days later. This lasted about 5 days for me, especially in the shower when I closed my eyes. So as I was unpacking, putting things away, and washing clothes, I found 3 extra pairs of carefully counted panties that had not been used. Now I wonder what it was I did that I didn't tell you about for these not to have been used. Perhaps it was just the days swimming. Maybe I did spend the day with my Fantasy Man. Or maybe it was one of those nudist shore tours! I only tell special friends my secrets!

Things we learned on this trip: